Gun ownership on the rise among women

A Gallup poll reported that in 2005, 13 percent of all women owned a gun. That number jumped to 23 percent in 2011. Many women say they are buying guns to protect themselves. NBC’s Stephanie Gosk reports.

'The culture of violence is certainly a big part' of gun debate

'We have a second amendment right to own firearms'

In Minn., a mentally ill murderer amasses an arsenal

In western US, guns are ‘part of our culture’

TODAY
February 12, 2013

Remembering Rebecca, a 'beautiful life' cut short

NBCNews.com
February 11, 2013

This content comes from Closed Captioning that was broadcast along with this program.

>>>just
90 minutes
after the president's antigun violence speech in chicago there were four shootings on the streets of that city. as it struggles with an epidemic of
gun violence
, which brings us to our week-long special series "flashpoint guns in america." tonight we look at a growing trend in this country as more and more
women
turn to guns to protect themselves. nbc's stephanie gosk went to texas and found one woman who believes that owning a gun saved her life.

>> reporter: everywhere
erin
goes now she says her gun is on her after that terrifying night three weeks ago. i looked up and he was like this pointing a gun straight at me and i'm just looking at the end of the gun.

>> reporter: three men, one of them armed, broke into
erin
's house an hour outside of houston. she was alone with her 6-year-old son. out numbered and scared, the young mother had one thought. my gun, my gun, my gun. that was it. that was the one thing that was going to save me.

>> reporter: erin
tricked the intruders into her bedroom where she managed to grab her gun.

>> reporter: i jushe shot one in the stomach and another wrestled her gun away kneeing her in the eye but all three fled.
erin
believes having a gun saved her life.
erin
did eventually call 911 but she wasn't able to until after the intruders had left. a lot of
women
who believe they need guns for self-defense are concerned that help won't get there in time. line up your sights. patsy quigley has been training
women
and writing books about self-defense since the '90s after close friend was raped. it was not easy for me to get a publisher for my book because there were so many
women
who were against guns.

>> reporter: she noticed big changes in
women
's attitudes towards guns. today the number of
women
buying them is on the rise. a
gallup poll
reported that in 200513% of all
women
owned a gun. that number jumped to 23% in
2011
. many like
stacy adams
say they are buying guns to protect themselves. there aren't many men i know who aren't bigger and stronger than i am. so even in the best scenario i'm already at a loss.

>> reporter: the number could spike even higher this year triggered by shootings in aurora, colorado and newtown, connecticut. the increase with
women
has really been apparent over the last i'd say four to eight weeks.

>> reporter: it's a trend that worries those who believe more guns could put people in danger especially
women
. the evidence is very strong that a gun in the home increases the risk for of course gun accident. the evidence is overwhelming that a gun in the home increases the risk for suicide and the evidence is very strong a gun in the home increases the risks.

>> reporter: even advocates admit there are times guns are good protection. nobody needs to explain that to
erin
. it is extremely terrifying to have somebody come in your window.

>> reporter: in that moment she says a gun was exactly what she needed. stephanie gosk, nbc news, magnolia, texas>>> when we